Access management involves the processes and policies that govern how users, both within and outside an organization, interact with its digital resources. This encompasses user authentication, authorization, and accountability. A solid access management strategy aims to strike a balance between providing users the necessary access to perform their roles and protecting the organization from unauthorized access and potential security threats.
Considerations for Choosing an Access Management Solution
Assessment of Organizational Environment:
Application Landscape:
Defining Access Management Vision:
Regulatory Compliance:
Scalability:
Approaching the selection process with a holistic understanding of the organizational environment, application landscape, and access management vision ensures the chosen solution meets immediate needs while aligning with long-term goals and objectives.
Viewing IAM Projects as Opportunities
Each IAM project, including SSO deployment, should be seen as an opportunity not only to achieve specific functional goals but also to position the organization for future IAM changes. Explore various options for implementing SSO, selecting those that align best with your current and future organizational needs.
Access Management Application Integration Best Practices
Integrating access management applications into an organization's IT ecosystem requires a thoughtful approach to ensure seamless operations and robust security. Consider the following best practices
Session Management
Enforcing session timeouts and expiring idle user sessions are vital measures to enhance security. Re-authenticating users for password updates, even within authenticated sessions, and periodically re-authorizing services through SSO contribute to deterring unauthorized access and enhancing security.
Considering User Privileges
Before deploying SSO, carefully evaluate user privileges, determining who is allowed to access specific applications. A malicious user gaining access to SSO credentials poses a risk to all registered applications; therefore, a thorough evaluation is essential.
Continuous Authentication and Authorization:
The evolution of Zero Trust extends beyond mere authentication events. Continuous Authentication and Authorization redefine the security landscape by embracing a dynamic, risk-based approach throughout the user's journey. Authentication is no longer a static gateway but a continuous process, adapting to evolving risk scenarios. This adaptive approach ensures that access authorization remains synchronized with the ever-changing context of user interactions, providing a proactive defense against potential threats.
Security Audits and Risk Reduction
Performing security audits before SSO implementation is crucial. While SSO reduces the attack surface, organizations must remain vigilant against password-related vulnerabilities. Cybersecurity focus sharpens with fewer passwords, necessitating proactive measures.
Zero Trust Principles
Moving beyond traditional access control, the evolution of Zero Trust involves implementing context-based access policies. This approach gathers rich signals about user identity, application context, device characteristics, location, and network information. Continuous Authentication and Authorization redefine the security landscape by adapting to evolving risk scenarios, providing a proactive defense against potential threats. The Risk Engine, a fusion of ThreatInsight and Risk-Based Authentication, serves as the central nervous system of the Zero Trust framework, constantly assessing and adapting to potential risks.
Evaluation of Architectural Placement and Protocols
For SAML implementations, peer identification and cryptographic verification enhance confidence in trust-based systems. Differentiate between technologies like JWT, OAuth, SAML, Kerberos SSO, Microsoft SSO, and AD/LDAP, understanding their specific use cases.
NSA and CISA Recommendations
Organizations should follow best practices recommended by the National Security Agency (NSA) and the Cybersecurity Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). This includes auditing assets for local accounts, defining password policies, disallowing local accounts on any platform, implementing configuration management solutions, and ensuring SSO availability through solid high availability designs.
Singapore MAS TRM Recommendations
In line with Singapore MAS TRM recommendations, user access management should adhere to principles such as 'never alone,' 'segregation of duties,' and 'least privilege.' Access rights and system privileges should align with the roles and responsibilities of staff, contractors, and service providers. Establishing a user access management process, ensuring proper authorization, and maintaining uniquely identified and logged records contribute to accountability and audit readiness.